New Yorker Joey Hadden frequently encountered social media posts depicting backpackers posing amidst majestic European landscapes and ancient cities, accompanied by inspiring captions. However, reflecting on her first backpacking adventure across Europe four years ago, Hadden found the reality to be quite different.

Hadden's itinerary included Berlin, Vienna, Venice, Rome, Milan, and Zurich, with accommodation ranging from night trains to budget-friendly Airbnbs. Initially, she felt she was living the quintessential life of a young traveler exploring the world. Yet, after just a few days, the harsh reality began to set in, leading to disillusionment.

According to Hadden, the true difficulties of backpacking are seldom depicted on social media. Her initial frustration stemmed from packing. Even with her largest backpack, most of the space was consumed by essentials like her laptop, camera, lenses, notebook, chargers, and other personal belongings. This left her with a minimal wardrobe: two polo shirts, one t-shirt, one long-sleeved shirt, three pairs of pants, one sweater, one blazer, one dress, and two light jackets.

Hadden often had to stand on tiptoes, holding her camera high to photograph a popular European destination during her trip. *Photo: BI*

With such a limited wardrobe, Hadden found herself doing laundry at nearly every accommodation.

"I had never seen anyone share about doing laundry while backpacking. Yet, in reality, I ended up washing clothes at almost every Airbnb I stayed in," she stated.

Given she stayed only one to two nights per location, her immediate task after checking in was laundry, ensuring clothes dried before check-out. After a day of exploration, she would return to a room less than 10 square meters, cluttered with damp laundry, making the already small space feel even more confined.

Night train journeys presented another source of Hadden's disappointment.

She had initially believed sleeping on trains would save both time and money. However, the shared sleeping compartment, under 7 square meters with four passengers and curtainless bunk beds, forced her to use the restroom for changing clothes. The confined space meant she could barely move beyond sitting on her assigned bunk.

Her second night train journey proved even more challenging, as Hadden could only secure a seat. The constant shaking, confined space, and restricted legroom kept her awake for most of the night.

This lack of sleep often resulted in Hadden arriving at new destinations feeling utterly exhausted. Following her train journey from Berlin to Vienna, she immediately sought a hotel upon arrival to catch up on rest. The time she believed she saved by opting for a night train became futile, as her first day was rendered unproductive for sightseeing.

The places she visited were packed with tourists. *Photo: BI*

All the belongings Hadden brought for her two-week Europe trip. *Photo: BI*

Clothes were washed and hung throughout the room. *Photo: BI*

The cramped train compartment Hadden booked during her Europe trip. *Photo: BI*

"I felt I had wasted two days simply due to insufficient rest," she stated.

Carrying a heavy backpack for hours daily led to persistent shoulder, back, and muscle pain for Hadden. She began to question the practicality of a backpack versus a carry-on suitcase, realizing a suitcase might have allowed her to pack more and experience less physical strain.

Crowds at popular tourist sites also significantly deviated from her expectations. Hadden had intentionally chosen to travel in October, anticipating it to be the shoulder season with fewer tourists compared to summer. Nevertheless, from Rome to Zurich, she consistently found herself navigating through dense throngs of people. She often had to stand on tiptoes to glimpse famous landmarks, and nearly every photograph she took featured crowds in the background.

Despite the trip not being as perfect as she envisioned, Hadden acknowledged that the journey still offered valuable experiences. Berlin impressed her with its green spaces, vibrant murals, and street artists. Vienna, in turn, captivated her with its labyrinthine gardens and architecture reminiscent of a fairytale.

"If I return to Europe, I will avoid night trains and shared accommodations, opting instead for a less crowded travel period to truly enjoy the experience," Hadden stated.

By Anh Minh (Source: BI)